School nurses are essential for student wellness

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Jennifer Bowdish is a nurse with the Brunswick School Department.

Somewhere at school, in what used to be a closet or storage space, there is someone working to take care of your child. They may even save their life someday.

They talk with teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, principals, ed techs, cafeteria staff and custodians. They know almost every student by name; their friends, the things they can’t stand, the things that set them off, the names of their pets, the times of day they find difficult.

They provide refuge in the toughest moments: a child’s first anxiety attack; clothing emergencies; hurt arms and legs; and a child feeling like they can’t breathe, whether from illness or emotions. So often labeled the person who “hands out bandages and ice packs,” forgotten but always there, taking the pulse of your child’s school, staying late whenever needed, they are your school nurse.

Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses. It was established to foster a better understanding of the role of the school nurse in the educational setting.

Throughout our large state, there are exciting projects happening in school, spearheaded by the nurses caring for your children. In Aroostook County, a team of nurses worked to reduce the harmful impacts of nicotine addiction by providing gum and fidget kits to help students manage symptoms of withdrawal, working to increase the health and lifespan of those students who need this support. Instead of an out-of-school suspension, the students would do in-school based interventions and education partnering with a county agency on the impacts of nicotine and tobacco products on the lifespan.

In Cumberland County, a nurse dedicated to managing oral health set up a program to provide oral health screenings, cleaning, treatment and referrals to often underserved populations as the shortage of dental care grows exponentially each year. Nurses understand that good oral health will reduce the incidence of morbidity and mortality, and that untreated dental disease can cause systemic inflammation, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and sometimes autoimmune diseases caused by the body’s immune response to unhealthy oral bacteria.

In Kennebec County, a nurse in RSU 18 is working on emergency preparedness and response times, creating rapid response teams trained in CPR/AED first aid. This potential life-saving intervention will increase the ability of students in more remote communities to have better outcomes in life-threatening situations. In fact, the state of Maine Department of Education nursing team has rolled out CPR certification and Stop the Bleed training to respond to medical emergencies and potential trauma response or mass casualties to be better prepared.

In Cumberland County, a nurse created a plan for “meatless Mondays,” recognizing that a healthy, vegetarian diet increases the likelihood of better long-term outcomes as an increase in plant based nutrition often provides better intake of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, and that it can help reduce the likelihood of chronic illnesses such as high cholesterol, Type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

No longer the “givers of bandages and ice packs,” Maine school nurses are constantly growing their practice. We are serious practitioners who work in a “whole child model.” Through the Department of Education, 63 school nurses have sat for and are now accredited as Nationally Certified School Nurses.

School nurses understand that we need to meet families where they are, and we want students in our buildings working hard as they are the future of Maine. For every school nurse present in school, there is a direct correlation to reduced absenteeism and more in school pupil days. Education happens when students are showing up and present for their jobs, in school. We are not “just” nurses, but stand in primary care providers, mental health counselors and sometimes, even an extra parenting presence!

On May 8, School Nurse’s Day 2024, thank a school nurse! We are happy to serve our communities.